Namibia is a country of great contrasts ranging from arid deserts along the entire west to riverine forests and floodplains in the northeast. It features vast open spaces and large national parks that teem with wildlife.

Many areas like the Namib dune sea, Kaokoland, Etosha National Park and the Caprivi parks can be described as true wilderness areas where the natural rhythms are taking their course. Spending time and emerging yourself in such wild areas does the soul good.

We would like to celebrate Namibia’s wild beauty by sharing some of our wildlife and landscape photos.

Shortly after sunrise the dunes at Deadvlei in the Namib Desert glow in the first light. The ancient acacia tree skeletons, not yet illuminated by the rising sun, stand as silhouettes in front of the radiating dunes.

The constantly changing light in this grand setting gives photographers a myriad of opportunities to capture stunning images.

An elephant herd sprints the last few metres to a waterhole in Etosha National Park. The urgency, excitement and joyful anticipation of getting to the water shows in every individual of the herd.

Observing and photographing elephants at a waterhole at the end of a hot, dusty day during the dry season is always a spectacular event. Once at the waterhole the herd takes its time for an array of activities, such as a thorough drink, a refreshing bath, a dust shower, socialising and – especially for the young ones – boisterous play.

Quiver trees at the Quiver Tree Forest in southern Namibia make for great silhouettes in front of a golden sunset sky. These extraordinary trees, which are a species of aloe, love Namibia’s hot and arid regions, and prefer rocky terrain.

An adult cheetah rests in the late afternoon at the private Okonjima Game Reserve, southwest of Otjiwarongo in Namibia. These graceful cats are threatened but have found a safe home in protected areas and private farmlands in Namibia – which hosts the largest wild/free-ranging cheetah populations in the world.

Two hot air balloons slowly ascend into the sky just after sunrise near Sesriem in the Namib Desert. Drifting silently above the desert plains between distant mountains and undulating dunes is an unforgettable adventure that offers you breathtaking views and extraordinary photographic opportunities.

A southern pied babbler examines the bark of an acacia tree for food. This beautiful bird is endemic to the dry savanna regions of Southern Africa and feeds on insects, including beetles, larvae, caterpillars and moths.

Pristine sand ripples cover the sand dunes near Sossusvlei. This ‘sea of sand’ is a great destination for experiencing tranquillity and the meaning of ‘endlessness’, and for fantastic photo opportunities.

A black rhino mother and calf visit a waterhole at night in Etosha. These impressive animals are critically endangered as they are killed for their horns by poachers all over Africa.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Professional nature photographers Claudia & Wynand du Plessis have lived and photographed for more than 25 years in Namibia. Their heart and photographic passion belongs to the African wilderness, especially the wildlife of Etosha and the Namib Desert of Namibia. The photos featured here are from their calendar WILD NAMIBIA 2019. Other Namibia calendars now available are AFRICAN LIGHT 2019, AFRICAN WILDLIFE 2019 and ELEPHANTS 2019 (all available on Amazon in Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain). For more information take a look at their website here.

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